Senior Product Manager - Downstream Software

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Primary Function of Position

Product Managers play a critical role in Ion’s success by empowering teams across technical and commercial functions to bring life-changing tools to our customers and patients.  As a Downstream Product Manager, you will drive the development, launch, and sustaining of cutting-edge robotic software products from launch to end-of-life.  Working across multiple product franchises in multiple geographies, and in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders across Product Operations, Development, and Commercial functions, you will ensure that new products meet the needs of our valued customers, and you will provide strategic input on future product and portfolio development.

The ideal candidate for this role must have excellent communication, organization, and technical skills.  A high attention to detail and the ability to evangelize big-picture storytelling to key stakeholders, while serving as the central point-of-contact for downstream product development, launch, and sustaining workstreams is key.  Expertise in product management methodology, project management methodology, software development, product launches, and sustaining engineering within healthcare/medical devices is a plus.  This role will report to the Group Product Manager of software.

Essential Job Duties

NextGen Product Launch and Sustaining

• Lead product launch and sustaining efforts across cross-functional technical and commercial stakeholders for next generation software and hardware-based surgical robotics capabilities

• Propose product feature updates and next-generation capabilities aligned with customer needs and company’s long-term targets

• Lead cross-functional team to ensure execution of a smooth product rollout process, including product launch, inclusive of: Product Pricing, Product introduction timing, product phase in/phase out, Training Plan

• Communicate, coordinate, and track project status at various levels of detail, ranging from big picture vision through engineering technical specifications

• Ensure execution of a smooth product rollout process, primarily in the United States but also global product launches when needed

• Serve as the single point of contact and liaison to develop, communicate, escalate, and resolve key launch requirements, customer needs, and go-to-market execution plans

Downstream Product Management:

• Understand external customers’ (i.e. clinicians/KOLs, reprocessing teams, hospitals and payors) and internal customers’ (i.e. Field Sales, Customer Support, Field Engineering and Services) needs to identify and develop in-market and product development solutions.

• Lead Product Management in the SIOP process (Sales, Inventory, Operations Planning) process, working closely with manufacturing and operations, forecasting SKUs

• Proactively identify product/field risks and lead resolution by developing solutions and execution plans

• Measure product success by monitoring product adoption and measuring customer satisfaction

• Monitor and prioritize product quality issues for the product roadmap. Work with cross-functional teams to resolve product issues and critical customer issues

• Manage downstream partnership efforts with development partners, coordinate key technical workstreams for on-going roadmap development

Business Analysis and Competitive Landscape:

• Define appropriate product launch and performance metrics to drive decisions on overall product lifecycle, supplier volume renegotiations, and pricing decisions

• Identify opportunities for product improvements by analyzing product return data and complaints information

• Serve as conduit between field and product management team by providing real-time insights from the customer and field-based teams

• Understand competitive, emerging, and complimentary technology, its impact on Intuitive’s Endoluminal product lines, and go-to-market strategy

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative market research to inform go-to-market strategy, pricing, and product positioning

Required Skills and Experience

• Self-directed, nimble, and adaptable with ability to proactively seek advice and feedback when needed 

• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority.  This includes the ability to take the lead in bridging communication between engineering, planning, marketing, sales, and customers.  The ability to context-switch between cross-functional groups is key

• Demonstrated interest in healthcare, hospital operations, and finance 

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting to senior management and customers

• Strong relationship builder with proven ability to work across multiple disparate parts of an organization to deliver results

• Excellent teamwork skills with proven ability to collaborate across multiple disciplines to ensure product delivery and success 

• Ability to source information independently and not only identify issues, but proactively propose creative solutions 

• Quantitative mindset, proven ability to investigate open-ended problems and work cross-functionally to implement initiatives  

• Ability to prioritize and work proactively to manage multiple competing deadlines and tasks 

• Strong knowledge of the MS Office product suite. Moderate experience or knowledge with Zoom Whiteboard, Tableau, Agile, and Polarion

• Ability to work in surgical labs and hospital patient care areas is required

• Ability to travel up to 30% 

Required Education and Training

• A Bachelors (BS/BSE) in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related technical field strongly preferred

• 5 or more years of professional experience with at least 2 years of experience in medical device product management, program management, project management, product marketing, or a similar discipline

• Product launch experience  

• Relevant experience in medical devices and/or engineering/technical organizations

Working Conditions

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Masters degree in life science, engineering, or business discipline preferred

• Experience leading launch and sustaining of multiple software product lines as the single-point-of-contact in a regulated environment

• Experience in one or more of the following areas preferred: medical software, capital equipment, medical devices, digital health, robotics, regulated product development

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees
who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s
start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target base compensation ranges are listed.